Equine Maintenance

Grooming Timing: Daily grooming may be required for show horses, boarding horses and horses used in a business. All horse should receive grooming on a regular basis. Some horsemen who own horses for pleasure groom their horse each time it is ridden; however, this can result in sporadic grooming.

The amount of time one has to manage a horse and devote to necessities such as grooming should be a major consideration in the decision to purchase a horse for business or pleasure. Ideally, a horse should be groomed daily.

Advantages of Grooming 1. Regular grooming is essential for health, cleanliness and appearance. 2. Grooming is the only way to remove dirt, dust, grease and dead skin cells from a horse’s coat. 3. Grooming brings the skin’s natural oils to the surface and give the hair coat a glossy shine.

4. Helps the horse overcome fear, relax and become less nervous around people. 5. Allows the owner time to get to know the horse. 6. Provides an opportunity to check the horse for injuries and health problems 7. Stimulates blood circulation and help maintain a horse’s muscle tone.

Grooming Procedure Basic techniques: a. Talk softly to the horse to calm the animal b. Keep one hand on the horse’s shoulder or hip Lets the horse know where the groom is at. Helps keep the groom out of the way of a kick.

Hoof Care: Objects such as rocks left stuck in the hoof may cause bruises to the foot and result in lameness. Remove these items with a hoof pick Dirt left in the hoof can lead to a fungus disease known as thrush. Remove dirt with a stiff brush Insert the hoof pick at the heel and pull toward the toe of the hoof to avoid injury to the animal.

Steps in Body Grooming 1. Curry comb the horse Removes mud Loosens matted hair Massages the skin and muscle Increases blood circulation Brings out natural oils.

Curry combs are available in hard rubber or metal. Rubber is more desirable and less irritating to the horse’s skin.

Curry Comb Procedure Start on one side of the horse: Work from the neck down the front leg to the knee. Curry the back, side, belly, crop and hind leg down to the hock. Repeat on the other side of the horse. Proper technique is to work the curry comb in a circular motion.

Only use curry combs on the fleshy part of the horse. Clean the curry comb by tapping on any hard object such as a floor, wall, post, etc.

Steps in Grooming the Horse 2. Brush the horse with a stiff brush or “dandy” brush. Follow the same order as currying. Use the “dandy” brush with short, hard, snapping strokes. Brush in the same direction of the hair growth. The dandy brush cleans down to the skin leaving the hair full of fine dust and dirt particles. One way to clean the “dandy” brush is by stroking against the curry comb.

Steps in Grooming the Horse 3. Brush the entire body, including the head with a soft brush. Removes dust and dirt the “dandy” brush pulled out in the horse’s coat. Brush with the direction of hair growth. Clean every stroke or two. The soft brush only hold a limited amount of dust. Clean by brushing against a metal curry comb.

Steps in Grooming the Horse 4. Mane and Tail Remove tangles Mane and tail combs, human hairbrush or fingers will remove tangles. Some groom’s prefer using their fingers to avoid pulling out any tail hairs. This method can be time consuming Human hairbrush is a good compromise for brushing out the horse’s tail with a minimum hair loss Detangling solutions may help prevent pulling out hair.

Steps in Grooming the Horse 5. Wipe the coat with a grooming cloth. Cloth can be any soft, absorbent cloth. Use the cloth by rubbing hard and long in the direction of hair growth. The cloth will polish and shine the horses coat. It helps bring out the natural oils in the skin.

Bathing Horses When to Bathe: Some argue horse’s should never be bathed because it removes the natural oils from the hair and skin Most are bathed a few days prior to a show so they have time to regain their “gloss.” Too frequent use of soaps may lead to dry skin and a dull coat.

Fundamentals of Bathing 1. To prevent colds: a. The temperature should be at least 50 degree F. b. Allow enough time for the horse to dry completely before nighttime.

a. Cover the horse with a cooler (a large square of wool or acrylic material used to cover a horse from head to tail.) b. Use a sweat scraper to remove excess water.

2. Use warm water to wet the skin, apply shampoo and rinse a. If the horse is frightened by a water hose, use a sponge. b. Start shampooing behind the ears and move toward the tail c. Scrub one section at a time.

d. Keep washing and rinsing until the soapsuds stay white. e. Never allow soap or water to get in the horse’s ears. f. Always wash underneath the horse’s tail because sweat collects there and may cause irritation.

Periodic Bathing for the Stallion or Gelding 1. The sheath is the double fold of skin that covers a male horse’s penis 2. Smegma is a cheesy, smelly, black secretion that combines with dust and dirt to accumulate on the outer portion of the sheath and interfere with urination.

3. Most male horse’s sheath require cleaning at least four times per year. 4. Veterinarians or experienced horsemen can help with performing this procedure safely.

Blanketing Horses 1. Horses raised in confinement may need blankets during cold weather for warmth, but horses that stay outside usually do not need blanket because they are allowed to develop a winter coat.

2. Reasons for blanketing horses: a. Show horses are blanketed to protect their coats from sun bleaching in the summer. b. Show horses are blanketed and stall lights are used to stimulate summer conditions to “fool” the horse into early shedding in the spring.

c. Show horses may be blanketed to keep them warm and prevent them from growing long winter coats. d. Blankets help keep the coat clean. e. Racehorses and performance horses are blanketed in cool weather to prevent them from cooling down too fast when “cooling out” after exercise or activity.

Proper Use of Blankets 1. They must fit properly so as not to rub hair off the horse. a.Watch the shoulders, withers, chest and top of tail for signs of blanket rubbing.

2.The blanket or sheet weight is determined by weather conditions and the needs of the horse a. The blanket should be heavy enough to keep the horse warm. b. The sheet should be light enough to prevent the horse from sweating.

The End!